The Soil Science Department Begins Its Involvement in International Activities 1955-63
This period saw the beginning of the participation of soil science personnel in programs of technical assistance and training in and for less developed countries, mostly funded by the Agency for International Development (AID). These were University-Wide, school-wide, intradepartmental and consortium types of programs. In 1954 NC State entered into an agreement with AID and Peru for a program of agricultural assistance and development known as the NC State Mission to Peru. The first Chief of Mission was R.W. Cummings. Since 1955, at least one member of the Soil Science Department has been continuously located in Peru. At times two to three Soil Science faculty members were on long term (two or more years) duty in that country, in addition to several short term assignments. A few soil scientists were also retained on a visiting professorship basis, either for direct participation in the Peru program or to backstop a faculty member on long-term service in Peru. Soil Science faculty participating in long term assignments in Peru in this time period were Robert McCollum in soil fertility, Frank Doggett in soil management and conservation, Preston Reid in soil fertility, and James Spain in soil management. This NC mission to Peru closed in 1980, but was reopened on a more limited basis in 1985 as the University-wide Research, Extension and Education Program (REE). Since 1988, the program has continued as the Agricultural Technology and Transfer program (ATT).
Due to the long-term emphasis and expertise in soil fertility, fertilizers and soil fertility evaluation in the Soil Science Department, AID in 1960 requested J.W. Fitts, then Head of Soil Science, to manage a multi-year, multi-country technical assistance and training program in soil fertility evaluation, including soil testing, in several Latin American countries. This program was first known as the International Soil Testing Project but later became designated as the International Soil Fertility Evaluation and Improvement Program. It called for several soil fertility evaluation specialists to work in a country or group of countries, helping to install or accelerate a soil testing and fertilizer advisory program. These specialists were supported by a small backstopping staff in the Soil Science Department in Raleigh. Initially involved in these within-host-country positions were Carlos Bickford, R.B. Cate, A.H. Hunter, Sam Portch, J.L. Walker and D.L. Waugh. Drs. Gordon Miner and John Nicholaides were also involved but later joined the Soil Science faculty in Raleigh. The International Soil Fertility Evaluation and Improvement Program was closed in 1975 after successfully installing soil testing and soil fertility programs in several Latin American countries. Positive accomplishments included increased fertilizer use and improved crop yields, improved soil testing methodologies and specialized equipment for soil testing which are still used in many countries.
This page last modified 1/15/03.